McLaren Elva: A US$1.7mil roadster with extreme power

By RELAXNEWS | 15 November 2019


LONDON: In case the Senna wasn't powerful enough for you, McLaren announced on Wednesday the Elva, a new high-performance roofless roadster that is joining the brand's Ultimate Series line - a collection of the company's most powerful cars to date.

The model pays homage to the McLaren Elvas of the 1960s which were designed by Bruce McLaren, the racecar driver and designer from New Zealand who the brand was named after, as "'customer' versions" of his racecars.

Without a roof, windscreen, or side windows, the model gives the driver and passenger an "immersive and enthralling experience."

No obstructions get between the driver and the sound of the Elva's titanium quad-exit exhaust. Despite this, the aerodynamic design of the vehicle directs the airflow above the cockpit to produce "a relative ‘bubble' of calm."

Major components like the chassis and body have been made from carbon fibre, a material whose frequent use in this model makes the Elva the lightest road car ever made by McLaren.

As a result, the twin-turbocharged V8 - which puts out 804hp - can accelerate the vehicle from 0mph to 100kph in under three seconds; compared to the Senna, the Elva can reach 200kph two seconds faster at 6.7 seconds.

Driving dynamics has been optimised with active aerodynamics, a linked-hydraulic active suspension, and electro-hydraulic steering. All three elements work together to give drivers the "purest feedback."

The natural response of the vehicle to commands allows for the driver to "feel one with the car" and experience the natural elements in full.

Only 388 units of the McLaren Elva will be available to order, each of which start at US$1,690,000 (RM7mil). The price will change based on customer customisation.

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